The article examines the introduction and evolution of green infrastructure in Irish spatial planning and explores the growing recognition within health policy of the environmental determinants of health. The Irish National Planning Framework is then critically appraised in terms of both its centralising of healthy communities as a key planning goal and its promotion of GI for multifunctional health benefits – including enhancing physical activity and mental wellbeing, mitigating noise and air pollution, and future-proofing cities against health risks associated with climate change (heat stress and flood risks). The article closes with a reflection on the prospects of advancing GI and health within a traditionally pro-development planning system.
The full text of the article is available in the Project Outputs section of the Eco-Health website or can be downloaded here.